The Girl in a Pink Hijab

Following cultural and religion rules does not have to be a
barrier for a girl like Fike Kireina to go after her passion.
Unlike girls in conservative groups who are oppressed to stay on
domestic post, Fike's true calling is in leadership issue and so
she has no reason to stay at home. For her, both boy and girl
stand a chance to become a leader.

"I don't think that human right states who should be a leader and
who should stay behind to follow. Everybody, boy or girl, is
equal," Fike said. Her leadership experiences were gained when
she led numerous team of organizing committees in school events.
Just now, Fike flew to Brunei to attend a leadership forum with
student leaders from all over Asia Pacific.

Fike is a portrait of today's muslim girl in Indonesia, a
democratic country with the most muslim population in the world.
She is not a typical girl in hijab (veils to cover hair for
muslim women) as you previously thought of. Of all colors, she
avoids monochromatic veils and chooses bright colors instead.

If you think Fike is an outlier, in some extent you may be true.
But, you are also incorrect since girls in hijab are ubiquitous
in top-tier universities in Indonesia. Some are not merely
ordinary students they are student activists or the cremes of the
school that have stolen trophies nationally and
internationally.

What I try to convey here is when in some traditional Muslim
communities women are 2nd class citizen but it is no such thing
in Indonesia. As I wrote earlier, they have same access with men
even for executive post in government.

After all the muslim community is a part of a larger
international community. Hence the influence of so called global
pop culture is inevitable. As Fike says, "I think pop culture is
a symbol of human freedom. It represents a free sphere."

Just like other youth, Fike loves fashion. She mix-matches her
hijab with eye candy outfit. It doesn't have to be expensive
though. Yet it must represent her personality as a dynamic and
outgoing girl. "Fashion is not only about what is on trend, it is
more like a personal statement," said Fike.

Fike feels she was born with privilege that her country and
family gives. She cherishes for the democracy in Indonesia and
her family. It gives her a room to speak her mind up and to be a
front runner of her generation without giving up in what she
believes.